A blog site with information on how to get into radio, and what to do once you're there!

Monday, August 28, 2006

Links- or stringing it together in a convincing way!

Links- are the radio term for what you say between the records- literally, “linking” them together.

..and there’s many ways you can do it.

A common theme in many radio stations is “One thought One Link”- meaning, keep it short or KISS- Keep It Simple Stupid!, or, as another boss of mine once said, “Tight, Bright, outa Site”

In these days of mainstream radio being more music, less talk, the KISS phenomenon seems more important than ever.

Personally, I like to be entertained and uplifted. I like to hear the people on air having a good time, and involving me in it in some way. I loved the “feel good” radio of the 80’s and 90’s. Pat Sharp exemplified this really well.

A lot of the time it’s not so much what you say, but the way you say it- if people sense you’re feeling good and having fun, it almost gives them permission to do so as well. That’s why entertainers and radio presenters tend to be popular people- people that people want to know- because they make them feel good about themselves in my opinion.

Many stations today are very restrictive on how much they let their DJ’s talk- so you hear the presenter doing about 4 very long links in per hour –kind of- here’s my opportunity to speak, and boy am I going to make the most of it!

So... how best to get a bit of yourself in the link, when you’re told to “Shut up and play the music!”?

In the next issue we will look at different types of links.

** This is an exerpt from my book "Get into Radio" which will be available for download soon!